Solar Power Residential Systems

Residential applications are one of the most popular uses of solar power. To install a solar power residential system, you’ll need an area of roof that is not shaded by trees or other buildings.  You don’t need to be located in a particularly sunny location, because they work even on cloudy days. As a result, panels can be used in nearly every area of the United States to produce solar power.

Residential systems require about 120 square feet of space for smaller systems, or up to 1,000 square feet for larger systems.  These panels will catch and store the sun’s energy, turning it from solar energy to electrical energy, which can be used to run household items ranging from refrigerators and microwaves to lamps, stereos, and televisions. 

To determine how many panels you need, you’ll need to determine your family’s energy needs, and compare this to the energy output of available solar panels.

The exact amount of power you’ll be able to produce depends not only on the panels you have chosen, but also the amount of sunlight reaching the panel; you can expect to produce more energy on sunny days than on overcast ones.

When considering solar power, keep in mind that you will still have access to your regular power company. Because solar panels don’t collect sunlight at night, you’ll either need a system that can store daytime energy, or to draw electricity from the power grid.  The upside of this is that you need not worry about installing enough panels to produce your family’s total electricity needs; a small system can still be environmentally friendly and save you money on your power bill.

Plus, if you produce enough energy, you can sell some of it back to the utility company and actually get a check instead of a bill each month. Essentially, any excess electricity will be delivered back into the power grid, spinning your meter backwards.  You may also want to consider other uses for solar power. Residential uses include heating hot water or pools, as well as providing central heating. However, by far the most common solar power residential use is to provide power for the lights and electrical appliances in today’s homes.
 

Although the systems can be expensive, many of these costs are offset by tax credits or rebate programs, as well as the monthly savings in energy costs. Plus, these systems usually require only a yearly cleaning, as they have components that will last for many years.  If you’d like to save money while helping the environment, a solar power residential system is the right solution.

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